The nation’s top-rated recruit showed why as Smith caught six passes for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The second-ranked Buckeyes took a 17-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Akron struck first after Ohio State received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out.
The Zips drove 42 yards in 10 plays to set up a 48-yard field goal by Garrison Smith, but their chance for more was severely undercut by a snap over the head of quarterback Tahj Bullock that resulted in a 14-yard loss.
The second Ohio State drive started slow as well with a pair of incompletions, but Howard scrambled and found Smith open on the sideline for 11 yards on third-and-10 to move the chains for the first time this season. They connected two more times on the drive, including a 16-yard back-shoulder fade Smith caught in the end zone for the first Ohio State touchdown of the season.
Will Howard ➡️ Jeremiah Smith@OhioStateFB scores its first TD of the season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/50FjJX7nBZ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 31, 2024
That capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock.
After a 40-yard field goal for Ohio State by Jayden Fielding, Howard and Smith hooked up for another touchdown, this time a 9-yard slant route.
In his first half as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Howard completed 10 of 21 passes for 116 yards. The Kansas State transfer also ran for 18 yards while Smith, a true freshman from Florida, had five catches for 47 yards and the two scores.
The Buckeyes forced a punt to start the second half then turned to Howard and Smith again, this time a pretty 45-yard connection down the home sideline that Smith adjusted to and hauled in at the 2-yard line. That set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins.
Next it was time for the defense to get involved as Lathan Ransom grabbed a fumble and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-3 with 7:35 left in the third quarter.
After another field goal by Smith, Ohio State extended ts lead to 38-6 on a 4-yard touchdown run by true freshman James Peoples on his first career carry.
With 10:16 left, the Buckeyes’ No. 1 offense remained in the game and Howard connected with Carnell Tate on a 34-yard catch-and-run to push the lead to 39.
They concluded the scoring when Eddrick Houston deflected a pass into the air, Gabe Powers grabbed it and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown with 2:25 left.
Ohio State returns to action next Saturday with a visit from Western Michigan.
NOTES
- Two starters did not play because of injury: linebacker Cody Simon and left guard Donovan Jackson. Alter grad C.J. Hicks got his first career start in Simon’s place, and Lakota East grad Austin Siereveld started for Jackson at left guard. Lakota West grad Tegra Tshabola also made his first career start at right guard.
- Adrian Norton, a sophomore from Stebbins High School, earned his first career start for Akron.
- Aaron Scott Jr., a true freshman from Springfield, made his debut at cornerback for Ohio State in the fourth quarter.
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